Handbag having removable cover



Oct. 15, 1957 E. R. LOWY 2,809,685

. HANDBAG HAVING REMOVABLE COVER Filed March 29, 1957 INVENTOR. .Fdward)2 law;

' C'MM F ATTORNEYS United States Patent G HANDBAG HAVING REMOVABLE CQVEREdward R. Lowy, Brooklyn, N. 1.

Application March 29, 1957, Serial No. 649,436

Claims. (Cl. 150-28) The present invention relates in general tohandbags or pocketbooks and in particular to a handbag provided with aremovable cover.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a handbag of thetype having a removable cover in which improved means are provided formounting the cover thereon.

Another object of the present invention is the provision in a handbag,of the described type, of highly reliable means for mounting a removablecover thereon which, nevertheless, can be readily operated by a femalefor the removal or replacement of the cover with a minimum of effort orpressure.

A further object is the provision of a handbag of the described type,having relatively few and simple parts which are nevertheless efiicientin operation and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparativelylow price.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view in elevation of a handbag pursuant to the presentinvention with the cover provided thereon;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover removed from the handbag;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view, on an enlarged scale, taken in thedirection of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4of Figure 1;

Pig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation taken in the direction of thearrow 5 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 4;

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a handbag 1-3pursuant to the present invention. The handbag it includes a foundationbag 12 and a removable cover or pouch 14.

The foundation bag 12 is constituted preferably by a flexible bag 16which may be formed of any suitable flexible sheet material, such as,for example and not by way of hmita leather, fabric or plastic. The bag16 is provided it a suitable top opening 18 which is defi ed by a pairof U-shaped frame members 29 and 22 which are hinged together, as at 24and 26, for openand closing the bag. A conventional releasable lockdevice 28 is provided on the frame members for retaining the latter inthe releasably closed condition thereof for keeping the bag closed atthe opening 18 thereof, as is well known to those skilled in the art.The frame members 29 and 22 are preferably formed of a suitable metaland are suitably secured in conventional fashion to the flexible bag 16.Each frame member may include a base or bight portion 31 and a pair ofopposing depending arms BIZ-34 which extend from the bight portion 38. Aconventional handle 36 is secured to a pair of eyelets 3838 provided onthe bight portions of 2,809,685 Patented Oct. 15, 1 957 ice 2 one of theframe members, here shown as the frame member 22. As thus far described,the bag 12 is conventional in construction, arrangement and operation.

The cover or pouch 14, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, has a formcomplementary to the form or shape of the flexible bag 16. The cover 14is formed of any suitable fleXible material, for example and not by wayof limitation leather, fabric, plastic, etc., and, as here shown, thecover 14 is formed of two separate layers or plies 40 and 42 which aresuitably secured together. It will be understood that the plies 40 and42 may be different in color, design, or appearance, and the cover 14may be turned inside out from the condition thereof illustrated in Fig.2 so that the ply 4%) will constitute the outer surface of the coverrather than the inner surface thereof as shown in Fig. 2. At each of theupper ends thereof, the cover 14 is provided with 21 preferably metallictrim member 44 which is provided at each end thereof with a laterallyprojecting preferably metallic eyelet 46. From the foregoing, it will beapparent that the cover 14 is of the reversible type and is provided atthe upper end thereof with four metallic eyelets or socket elements 46,which project from the associated trim members 44, and which aredisposed in the planes of the associated trim members as, respectively.The eyelets 46 constitute female elements adapted for engagement withcomplementary male elements provided on the foundation bag 12.

In order to releasably mount the cover 14 thereon, the foundation bag 12is provided with four male locking devices 48 which are secured to theframe members 24 and 22 at the corners 5%) defined by each bight 39 andits associated arms 32 and 34. Each male locking device 48 isconstituted by a generally circular housing 52, a pin or male element 54and a compression spring 56. Each housing 52 is rigidly secured insuitable manner at the associated corner 50. Each housing is closed atone end thereof by the base portion 58 thereof in which there is definedthe aperture so, and is open at the opposite end thereof, as at 62. Eachmale pin element 54 is provided with a head or finger piece 64, a collar66 of reduced diameter, which extendsbetween the head and a shoulder 63,and a shank 70 of further reduced diameter which terminates in theflange or shoulder 72. It will be noted that the shank 70 extendsthrough the aperture 6%) and that the shoulder 72 is disposed outwardlyof the housing base 53. The compression spring 56 is mounted on theshank 70, within the housing 52, hearing against the shoulder 68 and theinner surface of the base 58, to bias the pin element 54 in a directionoutwardly of the housing 52 and mounting the pin element forsubstantially universal movement, the shoulder 72 preventing thedisengagement of the pin from the housing.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the pin element 54 may bepressed inwardly toward the housing 52 to compress the spring 56, itbeing noted that there is a normal clearance between the shoulder 68 andthe end of the housing which defines the opening 62 to permit for saidinward pressure and movement of the pin element. t will also beunderstood that the pin element may be rocked from side to side, forexample as indicated by the full and broken line dispositions thereof inFig. 4, said rocking or movement being permitted due to the fact thatthere is a substantial clearance between the shank 70 and the housing atthe opening 62 thereof and due to the fact that the shoulder 72 canpivot or rock on the base 58 as indicated in the full and broken lineposition of the shoulder 72 on the two lowermost pins 54, viewing Figure4.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, it will be noted that the pair of pins 54associated with the frame member 22 in the normal orientation thereofwithin the associated housing 52 are disposed in converging relation ina direction outwardly of the foundation bag 12 and similarly the pins 54provided on ,the frame member 2%) aredisposed in converging relationoutwardly of the foundation'bag. More specifically, and referring toFigure 4, it will be noted that the pins 54 associated with the framemember 22 are disposed on axes which will converge and meet upwardly ofFigure 4 whereasthe pins 54 associated with the frame member 20 aredisposed on axes which converge and will meet below said figure. Thisdisposition or orientation of the various pins provides for a superiorlocking action whereby the cover is releasably locked in position on thefoundation bag 12, as hereinafter described in detail.

A preferred method of locking the cover in position on the foundationbag12 will now be described in connection with Figure 4. Assuming nowthat the cover is substantially disposed, as illustrated in Pig. 2, theeyelet designated at 46A is first mounted on the pin designated at 54Ain Figure 4, with the head 64 of the pin projecting through the eyeletat the front thereof and with the eyelet aligned substantially on thecollar 65. Since the inner diameter of the various eyelets greatlyexceeds the outer diameters of the associated collars 65, the cover 14is first urged in the direction of the arrow 8%), viewing Figure 4,until the inner circumferential portion of the eyelet adjacent theassociated corner of the associated trim member 44 engages the collar 66as shown in Figure 4. In this position of the front or bottom trimmember 44, viewing Figure 4, the opposite eyelet 46B is offset fromregistry with the associated pin54B, as best illustrated in Figure 5.The front trim member is now pressed inwardly toward the adjacent framemember id, as indicated by the arrow 82 in Fig. 4,'causing the pin 5413to pivot from the full to the broken line position thereof, against thebias of the associated compression spring until the collar 66 of saidpin 54B snap engages in the associated eyelet 46B. During said movementof the trim member 54 in the direction of'the arrow 82, and while thepin 54B is being pivoted from the full to the broken line positionthereof, the

, fronttrim member 44 moves somewhat lateraly in the direction .of thearrow 85) to move the pin 54A, from the broken line to the full lineposition thereof, until the pin 54B snap engages in the eyelet 468 atwhich point the springs associated with the pins 54A and 545 bothreadjust somewhat to return or urge the corresponding pins 54A and 54Btoward the adjacent corners of the front or lower trim member 44, toreturn the pin 54A substantially to the broken line position thereofillustrated in Fig. 4 and to dispose the pin 548 in the same positionrelative to the associated eyelet 4613. The lower trim element 44 andits associated eyelets 46A and 463 will now be disposed in the mannerindicated for the upper trim element 44 in 4 and its associated eyelets46C and 451), it being understood that the upper trim member 44 and itsassociated eyelets are mounted on the associated pins 54C and 54D in thesame manneras described in con nection with the mounting of the eyelets46A and 4513 on the associated pins 54A and 543. in each case, as bestshown in Figure}, the head 64 of each pin is disposed outwardly of theassociated eyelet which is mountedon the associated pin shank 65. Whenso mounted, and due to the previously described converging relationshipof the'paired pins associated with each of the frame elements 20 and 22the innermost portion of each head 54, which is the portion closest'theadjacent end of the associated trim member 44, overlies the associatedeyelet 46, being baised into said position by the associated spring 76,so as'to securely lock the associated eyelet against in advertentdisengagement from the associated pin. In view of the foregoing, it willbe readily apparent that each of the eyelets 46A, 46B, 46C and 46D issecurelyand releasably locked, in position on the'collar 6 6 of theassociated pin by the overlying portion of the associated pin head 64,as described.

The cover 14 may be readily removed from the foundation bag 12 in orderto reverse or turn the cover inside out and then mount the latter on thebag so as to provide a diiferent overall appearance or for utilizationof the bag without the cover. This may be readily accomplished by merelyforcing any one of the pins 54 of each pair in a direction to pivot thelatter away from the adjacent corner of the associated trim element 44-until the previously described inner or overlying portion of the head 64clears the underlying portion of the eyelet whereby the eyelet will slipoff the associated pin with the result that its paired eyelet will alsobe moved out of locking relationship with the paired pin. For example,considering the pin elements 540 and 54D in Fig. 4, if either of saidpins is forced in an outwardly direction toward the adjacent margin ofthe drawing-until the associated eyelet can slip over or 011? the pin somoved, said disengagement of the eyelet from the pin will result in aslight shifting of the associated trim member 44 to move the eyelet atthe other corner thereof sufliciently to release the latter from thedescribed locking relationship with the tip.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in thepresent invention without departing from the underlying idea orprinciples of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. .Means for removably securing a cover in bag-covering position atboth sides of a ladys handbag having hinged frame members provided atthe opposite side walls thereof, said means comprising eyelets adjacentthe upper portions of said cover, individual fastening elements securedto said frame members and having parts extending transversely of thecompanion frame member and terminating in free ends for movement intoand out of companion ones of said cover eyelets, respectively, forreleasable engagement therewith, at least certain of said transverseparts being resiliently engageable with and projecting through thecompanion eyelets, respectively, and

spectively.

2. Means for releasably securing a cover in bag-covering position atboth sides of a ladys handbag having hinged frame members provided atthe opposite side walls thereof, said means comprising eyelets adjacentthe upper portions of said cover, individual fastening members securedat the opposite edges of each of said frame members and projectingoutwardly therefrom, said fastening members having parts extendingtransversely of the companion frame members and terminating in free endsfor movement into and out of companion ones of said cover eyelets,respectively, for releasable engagement therewith, at least certain ofsaid transverse pants being resiliently engageabie with the companioneyelets, respectively, and being inclined to the axes of said companioneyelets, respectively, said resiliently engageable parts of'saidfastening members being resiliently movable transversely of the axes ofthe companion eyelets, resepctively, for releasing :the cover from saidfastening members.

3. Means for removably securing a cover in bag-covering position at bothsides of a ladys handbag having hinged frame members provided at theopposite side walls thereof, said means comprising an eyelet extendinglaterally and outwardly of each upper corner of said cover, individualfastening elements secured to said frame members adjacent the uppercorners thereof and engageable in companion ones of said eyelets, atleast one of said fastening elements on each frame member comprising anapertured part secured to said frame member at an outer edge thereof andinclined to the plane of said frame member, aheaded pin member mountedin said apertured part and'engageable ina companion eyclchsaid pinmemher having a limited movement in said apertured part, and springmeans biasing said headed pin member to a predetermined inclinedposition in releasable engagement with a side edge of the companioneyelet.

4. Means for removably securing a cover in bag-covering position at bothsides of a ladys handbag having hinged frame members provided at theopposite side Walls thereof and defining a top opening therein, saidmeans comprising a spring-biased pin at each end of said frame membersat said top opening, an eyelet extending laterally and outwardly of eachcorner of said cover and complementary to the adjacent pin forengagement lthereby, each pin having an enlarged head and a reducedcollar, and each eyelet being engaged on the collar of the associatedpin with the head thereof overlying a portion of the eyelet, at leastone of the pins on each frame member being inclined in a directioninwardly of the associated frame member whereby to increase theretention effected by said overlying pin eyelet relation.

5. Means for releasably securing a cover in bag-covering position atboth sides of -a ladys handbag having hinged frame members provided atthe opposite side Walls thereof and defining a top opening therein, saidmeans comprising a pin at each end of said frame members at said topopening, an eyelet positioned laterally and outwardly of each corner ofsaid cover and complementary to the adjacent pin for engagement thereby,each pin having an enlarged head and a reduced collar, and each eyeletbeing engaged on the collar of the associated pin with the head thereofoverlying a portion of the eyelet, and the pins on each frame memberbeing in mutually converging relation in a direction outwardly of theassociated side wall whereby to increase the retention efiected by saidoverlying pin eyelet relation, each frame memoer having a housing foreach pin thereof, each pin extending through its associated housing forsubstantially universal movement relative thereto, and each housinghaving a spring for biasing the associated pin to a predeterminedposition \therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,000,538 Resnick May 7, 1935 2,036,608 Rosenberg Apr. 7, 1936 2,609,854Rosen Sept. 9, 1952 2,627,885 Cassell Feb. 10, 1953

